Parallel work for one ressource

[Nils Tekampe]

Hi,
i'm quite new in MS Project and have a quite easy (I hope) problem. I
think a little example is the best to explain:

I have a task (lets call him PROJECT) that is divided into three
subtasks (Lets call them (Package1-Package3). This PROJECT should be
performed by ONE person. So I thought I should create one ressource in
MS Project. Right so far?

Now my problem: The three packages are still parallel in the
GANT-diagramm although all this packages should be performed by ONE
person. Isn't there a function in MS Project that recognizes this
problem and automatically shifts two tasks????

I already thought about to insert "end to start dependencies" between
the subtasks but in my opiníon this is not the right way because in
some subtasks there are real dependencies in that way that the result
of one pakcage is needed to start the next package. And perhaps one
day I want to add another person as a ressource into the PROJECT.

I hope my problem is clear and I hope there is a solution somebody of
you can tell me.

Thanks a lot and grettings from germany

Nils

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Nils --

There is no function of Microsoft Project that automatically does what you
think it should do. Instead, you have erred in making the resource
assignment on the three tasks. Essentially, you told the software that one
person is going to work full-time on three tasks simultaneously if you
assigned the resource at 100% Units for each task. You know that in the
real world this is not possible, so you need to try and model the real world
when you do resource assignments. You should have assigned the resource at
33% Units on each task, which is approximately how the effort would be
apportioned across the three tasks. You might want to remove the resource
from the three tasks and then reassign the resource at 33% Units on each
task. Hope this helps.

 

[John Beamish]

You've made a good start.

1. Create the tasks (you did that)
2. Using indentation and links, show the dependencies (you did that, too)
3. Create a list of resources (you did that)
4. Assign the resources to the tasks (and you did that)

5. Adjust the plan using a variety of techniques (you didn't get this far).

You, as the PM, know more than Project will ever know about the tasks in
your plan. You will have to adjust the tasks so that duration (the calendar
time) and work (the actual working hours) reflect your reality. For
example: I can ask you to prepare a report by the end of next week (2 weeks
of Duration) and tell you to spend no more than 8 hours working on it (8
hours of Work).

So ...

6. Adjust durations and work to accurately reflect what is actually
happening.

Now ... click on View | Resource Usage to see if your resource is
overallocated (the resource name will be in red).

At this point you have a couple of options:

(a) manually adjust the Work on a day-by-day basis to remove the
overallocation; or
(b) click on Tools | Level resources.

Yours is a simple case so you should try both methods to see how manual and
automated levelling work.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Nils,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

As you are so new to Project, you might like to have a look at my series of
Microsoft Project lessons in the TechTrax ezine, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc (Perhaps you'd care to rate it before leaving the
site, Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP